Moment Resisting Frames under the light of Japanese and European Codes

Abstract

The aim of the work is to make a comparison between the European and Japanese approaches to design Seismic‐Resistant Steel Frames (MRFs) in high seismicity areas. Therefore, the design rules for both the seismic codes are analyzed and compared. These design rules are applied to design a benchmark structure in DC3 ductility class (according to the new prEN1998) and following the Route 3 procedure (according to the Building Standard Law in Japan, BSL). The examined structural typology is a Spatial Moment Resisting Frames with regularity in plan and elevation configuration. The Japanese approach is divided in two stages. The first one regards the Allowable Stress Design (Elastic analysis) in which all the parts of the structure must be kept elastic; service and damage limitation requirements are in demand. The second stage regards the Ultimate Strength Design (Plastic Analysis) in which no‐collapse requirement and the protection of the human life are in demand. The seismic performance of the designed structures is evaluated by means of pushover analyses.